Muscat International Airport will have a piped refuelling system that will improve the safety and efficiency standards of the airport. Known as Rotork Valve Actuators, the system will be used on the aircraft hydrant refuelling plant at the airport. With an estimated cost of RO50 million, the system is scheduled to open in 2014.
"The actuation technology will help to increase the integrity of the aircraft refuelling process and reduce the risks normally associated with the refuelling process.

The procedure will also reduce the 'turnaround time' (the period between the aircrafts' landing and take-off) at the airport. This will assist the proper regulation of airport traffic as the planes will not be kept waiting on the tarmac for refuelling,” said Ashley Watkins, Rotork Middle East Regional Manager.

The system will enable the actuators to be comprehensively monitored and controlled from centralised control areas. It is designed specifically to cope with the long distances between the control room and field units encountered with the majority of actuator installations, without any loss of communication performance or the need for repeaters on the network.